Rich is Oakdale’s Chief Operating Officer, responsible for the day-to-day running of the organisation, overseeing operations, people, technology, and clinical quality so that everyone in the business can support and deliver exceptional care. However, for Rich, it's never really been about the performance numbers. What drives him is what sits behind them: people getting seen, understood, and supported sooner. He believes every person deserves the chance to reach their full potential, and that great teams can work together to truly transform lives.

Rich's leadership journey began in the cockpit, not the boardroom. Before steering strategy at Oakdale, he flew fast jets for the Royal Air Force and worked in the military’s strategic headquarters, guiding teams through pressure at home and abroad. Since leaving the RAF, Rich has led operations across ambulance services, large hospitals, professional services, and independent healthcare providers.

Those experiences shaped the leader he is today: someone who brings calm to chaos, blending military precision with genuine compassion to bring order and momentum to complex, highly regulated organisations. Rich's leadership style is values-led. He was shortlisted to be personal assistant to Prince Charles because of his integrity and, as a county-level rugby union referee, he lives out England Rugby's values on the pitch just as much as in the boardroom.